Notebook slow at times

[McCoy]

Hi everyone,

I have an HP ProBook 4710s running Windows 7 Pro. It has become quite slow at times and other times it is perfectly fine. I had it at a computer shop last week who said that they would need to do a service and clean the hardware out and put new paste on the CPU and it would cost in the region of R300/R400. Then also I should buy Bit Defender (for R700) and they should clean all viruses and spyware from my notebook for around R600/R700.

Now I needed my PC on Friday and took it to the office to do some work. Friday night I started a basic cleanup. I uninstalled all kinds of stuff I accumulated over the last 4 years (probably close to 100 apps), I cleaned hard dish space, I deleted temp files and extra things on hard drive and I ran a registry cleanup. I then defragged, but it was at 0% fragmented, so not necessary, but still did it.

Then my notebook was slower than it ever was. It would take 25+ minutes to reboot. Once restarted I would reboot again and it would take 2 minutes, work a bit, uninstall, check something, browse a bit on the net, restart and it takes 30 minutes (it takes long to actually start restart process, then stands on "logging off..." for 5 minutes and "shutting down..." for 15 minutes+, etc.).

This morning I started it up and decided to disable the wireless. It was super fast when I started it up. I opened some files on word, modified them and saved, did the same with excel. Opened some bigger PDF files, everything was instantaneous. I left it for another 30 minutes (was an hour since I started it) and it was still fine.

I then switched the wireless on (about 30 minutes ago) and I could see the lag within about 5 minutes. Google Chrome's spinning icon in the top left would stop at times (like it's hanging) and then wake up again, etc.). Word now took 3 minutes to open.

Why would this happen? Should I take it to the computer shop and spend the R1700 they are asking for? Will it solve the issues? I am fairly tech savvy, but really don't want to spend that money if it is not going to solve that problem, and really R1700 is a lot to me, but I also need my notebook to work.

The notebook does get hot, as in really, really hot. Sometimes when the kids play games (I removed it all yesterday though and they mostly play Disney Junior type games online) the notebook actually overheats and switches off.

Another thing is that it is dual core CPU. So in task manager I have 2 CPU displays. One of them would often be running at 100% for longer periods (like 30 seconds) even when I am not doing anything on the notebook. When I look at the processes tab in Task Manager, it shows the Task Manager is maybe using 2% and nothing else is using any CPU processing. Is this normal? This happened this morning when wireless was off.

What else can I check/try? Should I start with just the service? Is there a good free/cheaper antivirus? Any advice would be appreciated.

PS: I don't know how to upload files here, so I can't post a screenshot of my task manager windows.

 

[Johnatan56]

When you turn on the wifi, check your network usage, maybe something is running on the background?
If you can, format the laptop and reinstall windows, that should rule out software and if it doesn't help then you can go to the store to get it checked out.

 

[McCoy]

I can't format the Notebook, it has an OEM Windows version, or can I format it? I would ideally like to not format it of course.

Network usage is at 0% when I am not browsing and also at 0% when wifi is off. (That is if you're talking about the Networking tab on Task Manager)

 

[|tera|]

I can't format the Notebook, it has an OEM Windows version, or can I format it? I would ideally like to not format it of course.

Network usage is at 0% when I am not browsing and also at 0% when wifi is off. (That is if you're talking about the Networking tab on Task Manager)

Do this for me. Small exercise and shouldn't cost a cent. See if it improves your performance.

Switch off your Notebook.
Remove the battery.
Disconnect the power cord if connected.
Switch on the laptop, whilst the battery is removed, multiple times.
Hold the power button in for about 10 seconds as well, whilst the battery is removed.

Reinsert the battery, switch on the Notebook. Let it boot as normal. Give it a moment or two and test the performance.

Come back and report your findings.

 

[McCoy]

Do this for me. Small exercise and shouldn't cost a cent. See if it improves your performance.

Switch off your Notebook.
Remove the battery.
Disconnect the power cord if connected.
Switch on the laptop, whilst the battery is removed, multiple times.
Hold the power button in for about 10 seconds as well, whilst the battery is removed.

Reinsert the battery, switch on the Notebook. Let it boot as normal. Give it a moment or two and test the performance.

Come back and report your findings.

Thanks, I will do this. Would it make a difference if I tell you my batter doesn't actually have battery power? It works like a desktop at the moment - battery is in, but it doesn't work.

 

[|tera|]

Thanks, I will do this. Would it make a difference if I tell you my batter doesn't actually have battery power? It works like a desktop at the moment - battery is in, but it doesn't work.

Just follow my steps. Remove the battery, even if you think it doesn't work.

 

[McCoy]

Just follow my steps. Remove the battery, even if you think it doesn't work.

I did. Don't know what to report. Were you being facetious or genuine? What is supposed to happen?

 

[McCoy]

Just wanted to add that Google Chrome now often tells me (when it obviously takes long to load) that there is a problem and the page cannot be displayed. Do I want to wait or kill pages? My husband and I are on the same network, same notebooks, same specs, both connecting wireless and I have problems and he doesn't. I don't think the problem is with the actual internet connection, but I am not too clued up on the hardware and network side of things.

 

[|tera|]

I did. Don't know what to report. Were you being facetious or genuine? What is supposed to happen?

You complained about slow performance. What do you expect should happen?
I'm not being facetious either. I have a life and a job. I don't have time to waste.
There's no "magic" one button quick fix for all your problems. It also does not help to list it all randomly and expect help for each problem either.

Is the performance issue resolved?
Then we move on to the next issue.

 

[CataclysmZA]

Three things you can try:

1) Turn off Automatic Updates. You have to do this within Control Panel as well as the actual service by right-clicking Computer > Manage > Services and Applications > Services > Windows Update
2) Run Memtest86 from a CD or flash drive. The defragging process uses system RAM to store files while they are being shuffled around on the hard drive. If there's any chance of a memory fault affecting the system, Memtest will reveal it. The USB auto-installer option is nifty.
3) Download and run CrystalDiskInfo. The slowdowns you're experiencing could also be as a result of a hard drive that has information in a bad sector. Defragging usually solves this temporarily and Windows 7 auto-defrags during idle time, but there is a chance there's an error the drive is unable to accommodate for. If there's any issue with the drive at all, the app will warn you about it.

Also, you can format OEM versions of Windows, though I don't think it's necessary in this case just yet. If you bought the notebooks between 2009 and 2010, HP would have still bundled in the OS and driver install disks into the boxes and there should be a recovery partition on the hard drive itself.

 

[roskii]

You complained about slow performance. What do you expect should happen?
I'm not being facetious either. I have a life and a job. I don't have time to waste.
There's no "magic" one button quick fix for all your problems. It also does not help to list it all randomly and expect help for each problem either.

Is the performance issue resolved?
Then we move on to the next issue.

Wow.

 

[Johnatan56]

I can't format the Notebook, it has an OEM Windows version, or can I format it? I would ideally like to not format it of course.

Network usage is at 0% when I am not browsing and also at 0% when wifi is off. (That is if you're talking about the Networking tab on Task Manager)

Why would there be network usage if the wifi is off? Check your network usage when it slows down. If it slows down, open performance monitor and see what is spiking. If you can, use a LAN cable instead of the wifi and see if it makes a difference.

EDIT: If you see something spiking, click the performance monitor under that section in task manager and it should show you what process is spiking it.

 

[ponder]

I can't format the Notebook, it has an OEM Windows version, or can I format it? I would ideally like to not format it of course.

Do you not have a recovery partition on the drive (sometimes hidden)? You should be able to also burn install media from within windows.

Make & model of laptop?

 

[McCoy]

You complained about slow performance. What do you expect should happen?
I'm not being facetious either. I have a life and a job. I don't have time to waste.
There's no "magic" one button quick fix for all your problems. It also does not help to list it all randomly and expect help for each problem either.

Is the performance issue resolved?
Then we move on to the next issue.

No change in performance and no, I didn't expect a computer without power to solve any issues.

 

[McCoy]

Three things you can try:

1) Turn off Automatic Updates. You have to do this within Control Panel as well as the actual service by right-clicking Computer > Manage > Services and Applications > Services > Windows Update
2) Run Memtest86 from a CD or flash drive. The defragging process uses system RAM to store files while they are being shuffled around on the hard drive. If there's any chance of a memory fault affecting the system, Memtest will reveal it. The USB auto-installer option is nifty.
3) Download and run CrystalDiskInfo. The slowdowns you're experiencing could also be as a result of a hard drive that has information in a bad sector. Defragging usually solves this temporarily and Windows 7 auto-defrags during idle time, but there is a chance there's an error the drive is unable to accommodate for. If there's any issue with the drive at all, the app will warn you about it.

Also, you can format OEM versions of Windows, though I don't think it's necessary in this case just yet. If you bought the notebooks between 2009 and 2010, HP would have still bundled in the OS and driver install disks into the boxes and there should be a recovery partition on the hard drive itself.

I think it was bought end of 2009.
1. Automatic updates are off
2. Will try that, thanks.
3. I have taken the PC in now for a general service (replacing CPU paste, cleaning out, etc) and they are going to run a test on the hard drive.

 

[McCoy]

Why would there be network usage if the wifi is off? Check your network usage when it slows down. If it slows down, open performance monitor and see what is spiking. If you can, use a LAN cable instead of the wifi and see if it makes a difference.

EDIT: If you see something spiking, click the performance monitor under that section in task manager and it should show you what process is spiking it.

Someone suggested I turn the wifi off and check network usage, that was just a reply to what I was asked to do.

When the CPU is running at 50% (in other words one of the dual cores are running at 100%) and I click on performance tab, it shows that only task manager using CPU at 1%, nothing else.

 

[McCoy]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I have taken it in to have a general service done and they are going to test the hard drive for me and load a proper antivirus and malware stuff and check for viruses and malware too.

 

[Johnatan56]

Someone suggested I turn the wifi off and check network usage, that was just a reply to what I was asked to do.

When the CPU is running at 50% (in other words one of the dual cores are running at 100%) and I click on performance tab, it shows that only task manager using CPU at 1%, nothing else.

A quick spike is normal, what you should be worried about is a constant high load. Good luck then, most likely they will ask to reinstall windows for you.

 

[|tera|]

No change in performance and no, I didn't expect a computer without power to solve any issues.

Learn to read next time and leave the sarcasm and insults out of the equation if someone takes time to assist you.
I did ask you to reinsert the battery and subsequently, logic means power cord as well.

I'm not thumb sucking my advice either.
I've successfully completed this process on many laptops & netbooks with results that show the difference straight away.

Yes, there are other software and hardware issues, but you have to start somewhere.

 

[CriticalConsumer]

Hi everyone,

I have an HP ProBook 4710s running Windows 7 Pro. It has become quite slow at times and other times it is perfectly fine. I had it at a computer shop last week who said that they would need to do a service and clean the hardware out and put new paste on the CPU and it would cost in the region of R300/R400. Then also I should buy Bit Defender (for R700) and they should clean all viruses and spyware from my notebook for around R600/R700.

Now I needed my PC on Friday and took it to the office to do some work. Friday night I started a basic cleanup. I uninstalled all kinds of stuff I accumulated over the last 4 years (probably close to 100 apps), I cleaned hard dish space, I deleted temp files and extra things on hard drive and I ran a registry cleanup. I then defragged, but it was at 0% fragmented, so not necessary, but still did it.

Then my notebook was slower than it ever was. It would take 25+ minutes to reboot. Once restarted I would reboot again and it would take 2 minutes, work a bit, uninstall, check something, browse a bit on the net, restart and it takes 30 minutes (it takes long to actually start restart process, then stands on "logging off..." for 5 minutes and "shutting down..." for 15 minutes+, etc.).

This morning I started it up and decided to disable the wireless. It was super fast when I started it up. I opened some files on word, modified them and saved, did the same with excel. Opened some bigger PDF files, everything was instantaneous. I left it for another 30 minutes (was an hour since I started it) and it was still fine.

I then switched the wireless on (about 30 minutes ago) and I could see the lag within about 5 minutes. Google Chrome's spinning icon in the top left would stop at times (like it's hanging) and then wake up again, etc.). Word now took 3 minutes to open.

Why would this happen? Should I take it to the computer shop and spend the R1700 they are asking for? Will it solve the issues? I am fairly tech savvy, but really don't want to spend that money if it is not going to solve that problem, and really R1700 is a lot to me, but I also need my notebook to work.

The notebook does get hot, as in really, really hot. Sometimes when the kids play games (I removed it all yesterday though and they mostly play Disney Junior type games online) the notebook actually overheats and switches off.

Another thing is that it is dual core CPU. So in task manager I have 2 CPU displays. One of them would often be running at 100% for longer periods (like 30 seconds) even when I am not doing anything on the notebook. When I look at the processes tab in Task Manager, it shows the Task Manager is maybe using 2% and nothing else is using any CPU processing. Is this normal? This happened this morning when wireless was off.

What else can I check/try? Should I start with just the service? Is there a good free/cheaper antivirus? Any advice would be appreciated.

PS: I don't know how to upload files here, so I can't post a screenshot of my task manager windows.

Firstly, I don't think that opening up the laptop and replacing the thermal paste is going to speed up your PC.

They are going to install Anti-virus software to check for viruses...if you didn't have anti-virus software in the first place then this is a good step. Personally I use Norton 360 as its a less resource intensive application and has the capability to keep your notebook in tip top shape due to the Tune up / Optimise function built in - apart from the Anti-virus / Anti-malware etc.

How often do you defrag your hard drive?
How often do you test the Hard drive health?
How often do you optimise your PC? This would entail cleaning up the registry, removing old temporary files, cleaning up your browser cache etc.
When last did you do a full scan of your PC health?
Do you use Windows Task Manager--->Applications & Processes Tab to view which applications are using the most memory although they are not needed?

You could save money by checking these basics first.